Excellent tips. May I add a 10th? Garmin Varia Radar. I never ride without it. I still need my mirror, but with the radar, I always know when to look into my mirror. Keep up the great work.
I'd add: Even if it is legally permitted, don't ride holding up a stream of cars behind you because there is no shoulder. At the first driveway or entrance, pull off and let the cars pass. Once they have passed, you have significantly reduced (even eliminated) the chance of getting hit from behind. Don't worry about slowing down and losing a minute or so on a four hour ride. When you are on a bike, you are vulnerable to impatient, careless drivers. It may seem odd to do this, but when cycling alongside cars, you have to "see" an accident, before it happens. In many ways, you cannot ride a bike the same way you drive, because on a bike, you are not protected from impact.
Yes- you are so right! So many cyclists are stubborn when it comes to this. I can recall one time where there actually was no place to safely pull off, so I had to keep riding and it definitely upset some people…but if there’s a spot to pull off and wait, that is the best option. It’s not worth it to prove your rights to the road. Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Sound advice! I have whistles that I use on motorcycle trips in case I crash in a ditch, down an embankment etc, never thought about the dog issue. I agree on not sharing too much about yourself, trip plans, accommodations. It's none of their biz and even if they are just being friendly, it's best to be vague.
A radar-enabled taillight (Garmin Varia) plus a bar-end mirror has been amazing. I get an audible sound/beep when a vehicle is approaching from behind, and then I can see if the car is giving me enough space on the road. I rode with a mirror only for YEARS, but sometimes I’d miss vehicles behind me until they were super close and could hear them. Now the combo is my #1 recommendation!
Ohhh I will definitely have to check out that Garmin Varia. Thanks so much for the tip! I never ride without my mirror, but you’re right- having that audible sound would be an extra layer of “protection”. Thanks so much for the tip!!
I carried a whistle for the first time on my trip this summer in Canada while in Griz country. Blew it occasionally just to let the little fellas and gals I was coming through. 😃🐻
Great tips! I need to get a whistle. Southern Illinois is full of sheep farms and the dogs the protect them typically hate cyclists. A friend of mine said to them "we're chicken nuggets in spandex" LOL. But I think a whistle might be a great idea. Love all your tips!
Very cool! -- QUESTION -- I am interested in touring but wonder how difficult it is. If it were all level land I am sure I could handle. When crossing the country is it mostly a struggle due to hills, or is it mostly flat and easy going and sometimes hard hills?
Something I tell people is that America is definitely not flat. When you cross the country, you cross the Appalachians, the Knobs Region in KY, the Illinois Ozarks, the Missouri Ozarks, the Rocky Mountains, and the Cascade Range. The only flat area is Kansas, and even at that, you gain 4,000 ft crossing the state traveling east to west. Kansas also is notorious for its headwinds, which are almost worse than hills. With that being said, if it were all flat, you wouldn’t have any opportunity for coasting down hills and mountains, so flat isn’t necessarily good. You will get conditioned as you go. It’s definitely not easy, but you can do it! It’s also mentally challenging just as much as it is physically challenging.
i have been riding a long time!! the whistle idea is a really good one. I never thought of that one before. I have been chased by so many dogs. those hounds are the fastest. BTW, yes safety is what it's all about! I like all of your ideas. But i would like to share a story with you if it's ok! Back in 2005, i was on a training ride , and i got run over by a car doing 70mph. yes you herd me right. It knocked me 120 feet in the air down the road. The good lord saved me.I lift weights a lot and it helped. i landed in the hwy and rolled into the ditch. the lady tried to drive off , but turned around and came back when other cars were pulling over. The doctors don't know how i lived. Neither does law enforcement. Even though i did not break any bones, it did massive damage in my glute area, and i got beat up real bad in my low back area. I was totally black in blue from the chest down. i was in a lazy boy chair for 10 days straight. after 6 weeks i was back in the weight room, and after 3 months worth of physical therapy , i was back on the bike again. I have much arthritis in my whole back from it, and yes i forgot , i did break my back in the accident as well. compression fractures. I HOPE YOU NEVER GET HIT!! As far as safety goes for you and anybody , you need some kind of protection while touring. maybe a stun gun or mace. I carry bear spray , and a bike chain. Plus i am a very muscular guy and have military training. Thank you for sharing this video.I learned about the whistle.thank you.
Oh my word! It is a complete miracle that you are alive. I can’t even imagine!! That is honestly one of my biggest fears, and sometimes it makes me hesitate to start on a ride or a tour- it’s always in the back of my mind. I usually carry bear spray with me, even if I’m not in an area with bears. Thanks so much for watching, and I’m glad you found something helpful!
@@aspenswanderings yes aspen, i ride about 4 times a week including today after my workout. I workout at home. no carona here. then i bike around 12 miles. it takes me around 50 min. i ride a gravel bike . a steel frame bike. i really like steel. the ride qaulity you get from it. Anyhow, i like riding rail trails just like you do. It's so much safer. they say there froming a net work of rail trails across the country to form a trail known as the american trail i or something. Cars are suppose to give you 3 feet, but most don't. some even try to see how close than can get. i use all the lights day time lights to. they really help. anyway, i really enjoy your vids. keep'em coming!!
I never thought of a whistle to keep dogs away. I do have a whistle that came with my compass, but it's in the handlebar bag. Good safety ideas. Thanks for making the video.
I really like the taillight suggestion.
Thanks! Hopefully it helps ya out!
Great advice!
Hey thanks!
Hi great advice bikepacking is a great way to see different places
Hey there! I totally agree! Thank you so much for watching!
@@aspenswanderings are you on messenger
Excellent tips. May I add a 10th? Garmin Varia Radar. I never ride without it. I still need my mirror, but with the radar, I always know when to look into my mirror. Keep up the great work.
Ohhh, I have heard of that! I need to look into getting one, that’s for sure. Thanks so much for the tip!!
I'd add: Even if it is legally permitted, don't ride holding up a stream of cars behind you because there is no shoulder. At the first driveway or entrance, pull off and let the cars pass. Once they have passed, you have significantly reduced (even eliminated) the chance of getting hit from behind. Don't worry about slowing down and losing a minute or so on a four hour ride. When you are on a bike, you are vulnerable to impatient, careless drivers. It may seem odd to do this, but when cycling alongside cars, you have to "see" an accident, before it happens. In many ways, you cannot ride a bike the same way you drive, because on a bike, you are not protected from impact.
Yes- you are so right! So many cyclists are stubborn when it comes to this. I can recall one time where there actually was no place to safely pull off, so I had to keep riding and it definitely upset some people…but if there’s a spot to pull off and wait, that is the best option. It’s not worth it to prove your rights to the road. Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Oh wow, we have the same panniers setup, haven't take mine out on the road yet
Good taste!! Haha! I love them!!
Sound advice! I have whistles that I use on motorcycle trips in case I crash in a ditch, down an embankment etc, never thought about the dog issue. I agree on not sharing too much about yourself, trip plans, accommodations. It's none of their biz and even if they are just being friendly, it's best to be vague.
Glad you found this applicable to motorcycle travel!! Thanks for watching!!
A radar-enabled taillight (Garmin Varia) plus a bar-end mirror has been amazing. I get an audible sound/beep when a vehicle is approaching from behind, and then I can see if the car is giving me enough space on the road. I rode with a mirror only for YEARS, but sometimes I’d miss vehicles behind me until they were super close and could hear them. Now the combo is my #1 recommendation!
Ohhh I will definitely have to check out that Garmin Varia. Thanks so much for the tip! I never ride without my mirror, but you’re right- having that audible sound would be an extra layer of “protection”. Thanks so much for the tip!!
Some excellent tips - a safe bike trip is a successful bike trip - thanks for the awesome video
You've got that right! Thanks for watching! :)
I carried a whistle for the first time on my trip this summer in Canada while in Griz country. Blew it occasionally just to let the little fellas and gals I was coming through. 😃🐻
Great tips! I need to get a whistle. Southern Illinois is full of sheep farms and the dogs the protect them typically hate cyclists. A friend of mine said to them "we're chicken nuggets in spandex" LOL. But I think a whistle might be a great idea. Love all your tips!
Thank you!! I always have pretty good luck with whistles! And your friend is SO right about the chicken nuggets in spandex- haha!!!
Great tips. I use these on my bike tours, well mostly. I still have to work on my color choice to be brighter. 😅
Haha I know the struggle! I prefer Earth tones, but I force myself to be bright…haha!
Excellent!!
Thank you!!
El consejo de la luz blanca trasera es interesante 💡
I think it’s illegal in some countries, but it’s ok here in America. Thanks for watching! :)
Very cool! -- QUESTION -- I am interested in touring but wonder how difficult it is. If it were all level land I am sure I could handle. When crossing the country is it mostly a struggle due to hills, or is it mostly flat and easy going and sometimes hard hills?
Something I tell people is that America is definitely not flat. When you cross the country, you cross the Appalachians, the Knobs Region in KY, the Illinois Ozarks, the Missouri Ozarks, the Rocky Mountains, and the Cascade Range. The only flat area is Kansas, and even at that, you gain 4,000 ft crossing the state traveling east to west. Kansas also is notorious for its headwinds, which are almost worse than hills. With that being said, if it were all flat, you wouldn’t have any opportunity for coasting down hills and mountains, so flat isn’t necessarily good. You will get conditioned as you go. It’s definitely not easy, but you can do it! It’s also mentally challenging just as much as it is physically challenging.
i have been riding a long time!! the whistle idea is a really good one. I never thought of that one before. I have been chased by so many dogs. those hounds are the fastest. BTW, yes safety is what it's all about! I like all of your ideas. But i would like to share a story with you if it's ok! Back in 2005, i was on a training ride , and i got run over by a car doing 70mph. yes you herd me right. It knocked me 120 feet in the air down the road. The good lord saved me.I lift weights a lot and it helped. i landed in the hwy and rolled into the ditch. the lady tried to drive off , but turned around and came back when other cars were pulling over. The doctors don't know how i lived. Neither does law enforcement. Even though i did not break any bones, it did massive damage in my glute area, and i got beat up real bad in my low back area. I was totally black in blue from the chest down. i was in a lazy boy chair for 10 days straight. after 6 weeks i was back in the weight room, and after 3 months worth of physical therapy , i was back on the bike again. I have much arthritis in my whole back from it, and yes i forgot , i did break my back in the accident as well. compression fractures. I HOPE YOU NEVER GET HIT!! As far as safety goes for you and anybody , you need some kind of protection while touring. maybe a stun gun or mace. I carry bear spray , and a bike chain. Plus i am a very muscular guy and have military training. Thank you for sharing this video.I learned about the whistle.thank you.
Oh my word! It is a complete miracle that you are alive. I can’t even imagine!! That is honestly one of my biggest fears, and sometimes it makes me hesitate to start on a ride or a tour- it’s always in the back of my mind. I usually carry bear spray with me, even if I’m not in an area with bears. Thanks so much for watching, and I’m glad you found something helpful!
@@aspenswanderings yes aspen, i ride about 4 times a week including today after my workout. I workout at home. no carona here. then i bike around 12 miles. it takes me around 50 min. i ride a gravel bike . a steel frame bike. i really like steel. the ride qaulity you get from it. Anyhow, i like riding rail trails just like you do. It's so much safer. they say there froming a net work of rail trails across the country to form a trail known as the american trail i or something. Cars are suppose to give you 3 feet, but most don't. some even try to see how close than can get. i use all the lights day time lights to. they really help. anyway, i really enjoy your vids. keep'em coming!!
I never thought of a whistle to keep dogs away. I do have a whistle that came with my compass, but it's in the handlebar bag. Good safety ideas. Thanks for making the video.